Mondo Duplantis has become the latest winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
The Swedish pole-vaulter was honoured at the prestigious awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday night.
Last year’s recipient Novak Djokovic presented Duplantis with the gong in the Spanish capital.
The 25-year-old’s triumph came after he had been nominated in both 2023 and 2024 without winning.
He pipped fellow nominees Carlos Alcaraz, French swimmer Leon Marchand, cyclist Tadej Pogacar and Max Verstappen to the honour.
Previous winners of the award also include Lionel Messi in 2020 and 2023 as well as four-time winner Usain Bolt.
In the World Sportswoman of the Year category, another Olympic hero took home the award.
American gymnast Simone Biles saw off athletics stars Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for her fourth triumph.
Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati and tennis ace Aryna Sabalenka were also nominated.
Duplantis joins Bolt as only the second male track and field athlete to take home the title and the first male field competitor to do so.
The two-time Olympic champion namedropped both Bolt and Messi during his speech on stage.
He explained: “I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me, who I follow as the second track and field athlete to win this award.
Bolt is the only other male track and field athlete to win the awardGetty Images - Getty Messi also received a mention in Duplantis’ speech in MadridGetty Images - Getty“I’ll never forget receiving this beautiful Laureus from the great Novak Djokovic.
“I’m following in the footsteps of giants like Novak, Usain, Rafael Nadal and Lionel Messi.
“The list of past winners of this award is like a history of sporting greatness over the past 25 years.”
Bolt previously received the award in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2017 during his illustrious career.
Duplantis has since embarked on his own period of dominance in pole vault.
His victory in Paris last summer secured a second Olympic gold medal for the American-born athlete.
Duplantis broke the pole vault world record for an 11th time in FebruaryAFP - GettyMeanwhile, he broke the world record for the 11th time in his career in February.
Duplantis produced a life-time best of 6.27m at the All Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France.
It was the second time he had set a world record at the pole vault event.
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